EP1117290B1 - Combined device for support and watering plants - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a combined device for staking and watering plants.

It concerns, more specifically, a device of the type consisting of a tubular rod whose inner space acts as a reserve of water and / or nutrient liquid, the filling of this cavity being in the upper part of the stem, while its emptying takes place in its lower part, via a drip distribution system, including adjustable flow.

Hollow stakes, used to water the plants they support, have already been proposed.

As illustrative elements of the state of the art in the field, mention may in particular be made of the patent documents FR-A-1 361 503, FR-A-2 735 653, US-A-4,745,706, CA-A- 1,226,735, WO 92/14351 and DE-U-90 04425.

These known stakes affect the shape of a tubular rod having a filling opening in the upper part and, at the bottom, a dispensing orifice allowing the water or the nutrient liquid that is contained in the stem to flow into the tube. soil in which the stem is partially depressed, or in a pot with which it is secured.

In addition to its conventional function of maintaining the plant, or plants, which (s) it is associated, this kind of device ensures its watering and / or nutrition. The outlet orifice is adapted to allow a low flow rate, which feeds the roots, either directly or via a distributor duct, parsimoniously and regularly, generally drip.

This watering mode is both efficient and economical.

In some embodiments it is possible to adjust the emptying rate.

According to FR-A-1 361 503, this adjustment is performed at the top, by acting on the air inlet in the tube.

According to WO 92/14351, describing a device according to the first part of claim 1, the adjustment is at the bottom part, at the evacuation, through an adjustable labyrinth system.

These known devices have the disadvantage that the discharge rate is a decreasing function of the pressure of the liquid at the base of the tube and, correlatively, the height of the liquid column therein.

The flow therefore decreases gradually as the device empties.

However, it is important that the plants receive a regular and constant amount of water between two successive fillings of the device.

The present invention proposes to solve this problem.

• l'espace intérieur de la tige tubulaire est subdivisé par une cloison transversale en deux chambres, à savoir une chambre supérieure dans laquelle se fait l'approvisionnement en eau et/ou en liquide nutritif du dispositif, et une chambre inférieure qui débouche sur le système de distribution goutte-à-goutte, et ladite cloison comporte une valve apte à contrôler l'écoulement du liquide de la chambre supérieure dans la chambre inférieure en fonction du niveau de liquide dans cette dernière ;
• cette valve comprend un obturateur à pointeau qui est solidaire d'un flotteur disposé dans ladite chambre inférieure et coopère avec un orifice traversant ladite cloison ;
• ce flotteur a la forme générale d'un disque portant une tige axiale dont l'extrémité libre constitue l'obturateur ;
• ladite chambre inférieure se trouve à la pression atmosphérique, grâce à un perçage disposé dans sa partie supérieure et traversant la paroi de la tige ;

For this purpose, and in accordance with the invention, the device comprises means for keeping constant, or substantially constant, the level of liquid supplying the distribution system drop by drop. The device according to the invention is characterized in that:

• the inner space of the tubular stem is subdivided by a transverse partition into two chambers, namely an upper chamber in which the supply of water and / or nutrient liquid is made to the device, and a lower chamber which opens onto the system drip distribution, and said partition comprises a valve adapted to control the flow of liquid from the upper chamber in the lower chamber depending on the level of liquid in the latter;
• this valve comprises a needle valve which is integral with a float disposed in said lower chamber and cooperates with an orifice passing through said partition;
• this float has the general shape of a disc carrying an axial rod whose free end constitutes the shutter;
• said lower chamber is at atmospheric pressure, through a bore disposed in its upper part and through the wall of the rod;

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the description which will now be made, with reference to the drawing attached to Figure 1 which shows, in axial section, a possible embodiment of the device.

This device consists of a tubular rod 1 of plastic whose ends are closed, at the bottom, by a tapered and pointed foot element 11 and, at the top, by a plug, or lid, 12. The elements 11 and 12 are for example nested and glued in the end of the tube.

The rod 1 is, for example, cylindrical, and the foot 11 conical. The foot 11 is intended to be driven into the ground. It can be advantageously lined with fins improving the anchoring. The plug 12 is strong enough to allow driving with a hammer.

The dimensions of the device are adapted, of course, to the nature and the size of the plants concerned.

As an indication, the length of the rod 1 is between 1.5 and 2 meters, its diameter between 50 and 100 millimeters, and the thickness of its wall is a few millimeters.

In the upper part, the wall 10 of the tube is pierced with an opening receiving a bent pipe 2, also made of plastic. This has a collar 20 bearing against the edge of the opening. Fixing is carried out by simple interlocking. The tubing 2 is disposed inside the hollow rod 1. It has a generally circular arc shape, and its upper mouth, which passes through the wall 10, has a radial orientation, perpendicular to the axis of the rod 1 Its lower mouth has an axial orientation, directed downwards.

In this mouth, is mounted a filter 3. This is for example a small cylindrical pad of synthetic fibers, preferably removable.

It will be observed that the wall 10 is hollowed out on its outer face with annular grooves 16. In a well-known manner, their function is to receive and retain the attachment links of the plants.

The device comprises a drip type drainage system located at the base of the rod 1, just above the foot 11. It comprises a body 7 made of plastic material mounted in a radial opening through the wall 10 is fixed in it in a sealed manner, for example by interlocking and gluing, or by screwing. The body 7 is traversed by a drain bore 70 which communicates the interior space of the tube 1 with the outside. This system comprises a screw-needle 70 for adjusting the passage section of the bore 70, or to close completely. On top of the body 7 is mounted a washer 71 carrying a graduation; the head of the needle screw 70 carries a mark whose correspondence with this scale makes it possible to indicate the degree of opening of the system and, consequently, the value of the emptying rate.

The graduation (not visible in the figure) is for example a circular scale comprising the letter "F" (closed system) and the numbers 1 to 6, a turn of the screw corresponding to the complete opening of the bore 70 from the closed position.

Depending on the use, the watering can either be done directly from the emptying system 7, the water and / or the nutrient liquid then flowing directly into the soil, in which the stem 1 is planted, in the immediate vicinity of the foot 11, or indirectly, via a distributor pipe 80.

It is this latter configuration that is illustrated. It is a flexible conduit, for example plastic, whose downstream end (not visible in the figure) can be positioned at best in the desired watering area.

In the example shown, the body 7 is integral with a tubular nozzle 8 on which is fitted the upstream end of the duct 80.

Advantageously, it is a piece of material that may change color depending on the degree of humidity to which it is exposed.

Suitable materials include, for example, ceramics.

The tip 8 has an externally visible collar, despite the presence of the conduit 80.

According to an essential characteristic of the invention, the interior of the tubular rod 1 is compartmentalized by a discoidal transverse partition 4. The latter is adhesively sealed against the internal face of the wall 10.

It is located at a certain height above the drain bore 70.

The partition 4 thus subdivides the interior space of the rod into an upper chamber 14 and a lower chamber 15. The upper chamber is significantly larger than the lower chamber.

As an indication, the chamber 14 has a height of fifteen to thirty times greater than that of the chamber 15.

The partition 4 is pierced by a central orifice 40 of small diameter, frustoconical wall, diverging downwards. The orifice 40 can be closed by a conical member 6 of complementary shape. This constitutes the free end portion of a small axial rod 60 carried by a float 5. It is a piece of light material, approximately disk-shaped, which carries at its periphery longitudinal ribs 50. These guide the float in translation in the chamber 15, in the manner of a piston, so that the member 6 is properly oriented on the orifice 40. It plays the role of a needle valve , the elements 6 and 40 acting as a valve. When the float is in the high position, the member 6 is pressed against the edge of the orifice 40 and closes the latter (closed valve). On the contrary, when in the low position, the member 6 is at a distance below the orifice 40, and the latter is not closed (open valve); the liquid contained in the upper chamber 14 is then free to flow by gravity into the lower chamber 15, via this orifice 40. It can also flow freely around the periphery of the float 5, the presence of the ribs 50 allowing the passage liquid.

Just below the partition 4, the wall 10 is traversed by a bore 13 whose function is to put the chamber 15 at atmospheric pressure.

We will now explain the operation of this device.

The stem 1 is partially sunk in the ground, near the trunk or the stem of the shrub, or other plant, the staking of which it is affected, in a substantially vertical position.

The emptying system 7, and the conduit 80 remain, of course, out of the ground.

By means of appropriate fasteners, such as necklaces or ties, the trunk or stem of the shrub or other plant is appropriately held together against the stem 1.

The grooves 16 prevent the clips from sliding unexpectedly in the axial direction.

At the beginning of the operation the device is empty.

The screw 70 is in the closed position of the emptying system.

The float therefore rests, under the effect of gravity, in the bottom of the chamber 15.

To fill the device, it introduces the dispenser of water and / or nutrient liquid, liquid fertilizer including, for example the mouth of a watering can neck or the spout of a container, in the opening of the tubing 2.

In this regard, it will be noted that - preferably - this opening is diametrically opposed to the emptying system 7. Thus, if it is oriented against the base of the trunk of the plant, and close to the latter, the presence of the trunk not gene the filling operation.

The liquid discharged into the tubing 2 passes through the filter 3, which holds impurities and other solid particles likely to be suspended therein.

It is therefore a pure liquid that arrives in the chamber 14. The float 5 is in the low position, this liquid flows into the underlying chamber 15 through the orifice 40, which is clear.

As filling progresses, the float 5 rises under the effect of buoyancy until the needle member 6 closes the orifice 40. It is then the chamber 15 which fills. When the water level reaches the level of the tubing 2, the device is operational.

In order to water, position the downstream end opening on the ground, in the desired area, and open the drain system. We set the flow rate to the value desired, turning more or less the screw 70 in the direction of the opening. The graduation on the washer 71 allows to operate accurately.

The flow rate chosen depends, of course, on the variety and age of the plant concerned, as well as the time of year in which the watering is done.

As an indication, the daily requirement for an average tree is two liters per day.

The watering is therefore carried out drop by drop, the liquid present in the chamber 15 escaping at a low flow rate - for example of the order of 0.5 to 1 dl / h - from this chamber in the chamber. conduit distributor 80.

The float 5 therefore tends to constantly descend, so that the shutter 6 which is secured to it tends to emerge from the orifice 40, thus again allowing the passage of a certain amount of water.

There is therefore an automatic and continuous compensation of the leak due to the emptying in the lower chamber 15, by bringing liquid from the upper chamber 14; the height of liquid in the chamber 15 is therefore constant in the normal regime, that is to say as long as there is liquid in the chamber 14. This height corresponds to the high position of the float, position illustrated in FIG. . As an indication, it is for example of the order of 70 to 80 mm.

The pressure of the liquid at the bore 70 which is directly a function of this height since the pressure above the float is the atmospheric pressure (through the bore 13) is therefore constant. Correlatively, the emptying rate - a function of pressure - is also constant.

The goal is therefore achieved.

When the chamber 14 is empty, the watering continues until exhaustion of the liquid in the chamber 15, with descent of the float 5 and decreasing pressure, as on conventional devices. However, this only occurs at the end of the operation, during a limited period of time (because the chamber 15 is much smaller than the chamber 14), and only when a liquid booster has not been done on time (before complete emptying of chamber 14).

In the case where the device is completely empty, the color change of the nozzle 8 warns the person responsible for monitoring watering, the situation.

Other types of emptying indicators could be provided such as, for example, an index integral with the float 5 and visible externally.

The presence of the filter 3 prevents clogging of the valve system 6, 40, which could be the cause of its malfunction. The filter can be changed periodically, after disengagement of the tubing 2.

It would not depart from the scope of the invention by connecting one or more devices as described above to a water supply, by means of one (or) pipe (s) connector (s).

The same device could be provided with several systems of drip, for example two diametrically opposed systems.

It goes without saying that the invention is also directed to devices whose discharge rate is not adjustable, the drip then being done through a gauge nozzle.

The filling of the device could be done directly by the upper end of the rod, the plug 12 then being removable, and a filter being provided at this level.

This is interesting, in particular, for rods of small diameter, in which it is difficult to mount the filler neck 2.

The device could have ancillary functions, for example support a basin or a lighting device.

In a possible embodiment, the length of the rod 60, which determines the distance of the shutter 6 relative to the float 5, is adjustable. This is for example a threaded rod screwed into the float, the adjustment being a function of the degree of screwing. It is thus possible to vary the height of the water level determining the drain pressure.

The color of the stem is advantageously chosen to integrate harmoniously with the vegetation concerned.

Simply indicative, if the hollow rod has a total length of the order of 1 m and an inner diameter of about 20 mm, its capacity is about 30 cl.

For a daily consumption of 1 cl / day, its autonomy is of the order of 30 days.

Claims (1)

1. Combined device for support and watering of plants, consisting of one tubular pipe (1) in which the inside room is a water and/or nutritious liquid container, the filling of this cavity being done at the upper part of the pipe (1) when the emptying is done in the lower part, through a drip by drip watering device (7) notably with an adjustable flow rate characterized by the fact that the tubular pipe inside room (1) is subdivided by a crossed partition (4) in two parts, i.e. one upper part (14) in which the filling of water and/or nutritious liquid of the device is done, and one lower part (15) ending by the drip by drip watering device (7) and the aforesaid partition (4) includes a valve (6,40) capable of regulating the liquid flow from the upper part (14) to the lower part (15) and the aforesaid valve includes a pointed shutter (6) dependent on a float (5) taking place in the aforesaid lower part (15) and is linked to the hole (40) crossing the aforesaid partition (4) and the lower part (15) is under air pressure, thanks to a hole (13) in its upper part and across the partition (10) of the pipe (1) and allows to keep constant, or approximately constant, the level feeding the aforesaid drip by drip watering device (7).

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